Earring assembly

ABSTRACT

The present invention relates to an earring assembly comprising an ornamental portion adapted to be suspended from a hook portion. The hook portion is adapted to be inserted into a piercing opening of an earlobe of a wearer by a pin portion extended from the hook. The assembly further comprises an ornamental ear lobe masking element, mounted on the hook, adapted to be securely mounted on the assembly and provided to mask or disguise the piercing opening or hole of the earlobe. The assembly further comprises a guard element mounted on the hook and adapted to abut the inner surface of the earlobe. The guard element is provided to facilitate a counter balance with the masking element and to keep the masking element flat against the earlobe. The masking element has generally a saucer-shaped configuration and provided with a central opening that threads onto the hook. The masking element can be made of a synthetic material and provided with silicon filler around the central opening to provide a friction property and facilitate a secure positioning of the element on the hook portion.

The present application relies on the priority of a U.S. Provisional patent application No. 60/999,818, filed Oct. 22, 2007.

The present invention relates to an earring assembly, and more particularly to an accessory for an earring to mask stretched pierced holes in ear lobes caused by prolonged wear of heavy earrings. The invention comprises an earlobe masking element threaded onto a front portion of a hook-type earring's attachment hook, thereby hiding the unsightly puncture of the wire through the hole.

People who wear heavy earrings for extended periods of time experience a problem of stretched holes in their ear lobes. The hole becomes vertically elongated and not aesthetically pleasing; it resembles more a slit rather than a hole, and the ear lobe does not recede back into its original position.

The present invention hides the slit, and creates an attractive appearance on the wearer's lobe.

There is known U.S. Pat. No. 5,577,396, which comprises an element (30) that may hide a stretched hole; however, it is neither decorative nor functional to this effect.

There is also U.S. Pat. No. 5,456,094, designed to be used with a post-clasp type of earring in an oversized ear lobe hole; however, this invention's object is completely different from the present invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a dis-assembled earring assembly according the first embodiment of the present invention invention.

FIG. 2 is a perspective you of FIG. 1 in assembled mode.

FIG. 3A is a front view of an earlobe masking element of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3B is a back view of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of FIG. 3A.

FIG. 4A is a front view of second embodiment of an earlobe masking element according to the present invention.

FIG. 4B is a back view of FIG. 4A.

FIG. 4C is a cross-sectional view of FIG. 4A.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an earring assembly comprising an ornamental portion adapted to be suspended from a hook portion. The hook portion is adapted to be inserted into a piercing opening of an earlobe of a wearer by means of a pin portion extended from the hook portion. The present invention comprises an earlobe masking element adapted to be securely mounted on the assembly and provided to mask or disguise the piercing opening of the earlobe. The masking element is mounted on the hook portion. The assembly further comprises a guard element mounted on the hook portion and adapted to abut an inner surface of the earlobe. The guard element facilitates a counter balance with the masking element and keeps the masking element flat against the earlobe.

The masking element has generally a saucer-shaped configuration and provided with a central opening adapted to be threaded on the hook portion. It is made of a synthetic material, and is further provided with a silicon filler around the central opening. Friction of the silicon filler facilitates a secure positioning of the element on the hook portion.

In another embodiment of the present invention, the masking element is made of rubber, and the outer surface of the element is provided with a design ornament. In yet another embodiment, the masking element is made of metal, wherein the inner surface of the element is provided with a pair of curled-up springs adapted to be securely clamped on the hook portion. In still another embodiment, the masking element is further provided with an ornamental design formed on an outer surface of the element.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring now to FIG. 1, the present invention comprises ornamental element 10. Said element 10 can be made of synthetic material, such as rubber or plastic, metal, or any other material that is suitable for the purpose. Element 10 has substantially circular or of a saucer-like configuration and is filled with a friction-fit material 60, such as silicon or rubber to eliminate slippage from the hook 20 in use by creating friction. Front surface of the element 10 is provided with an ornamental design 80. A hole 70 is located in the center of element 10. In use, a user will have a conventional hook-type earring 5 that comprises pin portion 30, hook portion 20, and earring ornament portion 40. Pin portion 30 slides through ear lobe hole (not shown) up to hook portion 20, and earring ornament portion 40 is suspended substantially below ear lobe 50.

The present invention is implemented as follows: user threads pin portion 30 through element 10's hole 70 until element 10 is substantially in proximity of hook portion 20. Once user threads pin portion 30 through earlobe hole, element 10 will abut on outer surface of said earlobe hole in such a manner as to mask it from view. Element 10 will be held in place between earlobe 50 and hook portion 20 by the use of a rubber guard element 90 threaded onto the hook 20 such a way that it will abut an inner surface of the ear lobe 50.

Element 10 can be made in such a manner as to match any earring ornament portion 40 as far as color, texture, material or other characteristics. It is important to note that element 10's hole 70 should be tight enough not to slide down from hook portion 20 to earring ornament portion 40 during use.

FIGS. 3A and 3B show the earlobe masking element 10 made of metal. In this case it is mounted on hook 20 by means of a pair of curled-up springs 100 adapted to be securely clamped to the hook 20.

Preferably, the front portion of the earlobe element 10 carries an ornamental design. In the second embodiment shown on FIGS. 4A-4C, it may be sparkles, crystals or any other decorative pieces embedded into the rubber. In the first embodiment shown on FIGS. 1-3B ornamental design may be formed of stamped metal.

Thus, it can be seen that the objects of the present invention have been satisfied by the structure presented hereinabove. While in accordance with the Patent Statutes, only the best mode and preferred embodiments of the present invention have been presented and described in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto or thereby. Accordingly, for an appreciation of the true scope and breadth of the invention, references should be made to the following claims. 

1. An earring assembly comprising: an ornamental portion adapted to be suspended from a hook portion, said hook portion adapted to be inserted into a piercing opening of an earlobe of a wearer by means of a pin portion extended from said hook portion, said assembly further comprising an earlobe masking element, said masking element adapted to be securely mounted on said assembly and provided to mask or disguise said piercing opening of said earlobe.
 2. Earring assembly according to claim 1, wherein said masking element is mounted on said hook portion.
 3. Earring assembly according to claim 2, wherein said assembly further comprises a guard element, said guard element is mounted on said hook portion and adapted to abut an inner surface of said earlobe, said guard element provided to facilitate a counter balance with said masking element and to keep said masking element flat against said earlobe.
 4. Earring assembly according to claim 2, wherein said masking element has generally a saucer-shaped configuration and provided with a central opening adapted to be threaded on said hook portion.
 5. Earring assembly according to claim 4, wherein said masking element is made of a synthetic material, said element is further provided with a silicon filler around said central opening, wherein a friction property of said silicon filler facilitates a secure positioning of said element on said hook portion.
 6. Earring assembly according to claim 5, wherein said masking element is made of rubber, and wherein an outer surface of said element is provided with a design ornament.
 7. Earring assembly according to claim 2, wherein said masking element is made of metal, wherein said inner surface of said element is provided with a pair of curled-up springs adapted to be securely clamped on said hook portion.
 8. Earring assembly according to claim 7, wherein said masking element is further provided with an ornamental design formed on an outer surface of said element.
 9. An earlobe masking element for an earring assembly comprising: a masking element adapted to be securely mounted on a hook portion of said assembly, said hook portion is adapted to support an ornamental portion suspended from said hook portion, said hook portion adapted to be inserted into a piercing opening of an earlobe of a wearer by means of a pin portion extended from said hook portion, said masking element is provided to mask or disguise said piercing opening of said earlobe.
 10. Earlobe masking element according to claim 9, wherein said element is further provided with a guard element, said guard element is mounted on said hook portion and adapted to abut an inner surface of said earlobe, said guard element provided to facilitate a counter balance with said masking element and to keep said masking element flat against said earlobe.
 11. Earring assembly according to claim 9, wherein said masking element has generally a saucer-shaped configuration and provided with a central opening adapted to be threaded on said hook portion.
 12. Earlobe masking element according to claim 11, wherein said masking element is made of a synthetic material, wherein said element is further provided with a silicon filler deposited around said central opening, wherein a friction property of said silicon material around said opening facilitate a secure positioning of said element on said hook portion.
 13. Earlobe masking element according to claim 12, wherein said masking element is made of rubber, wherein an outer surface of said elements has a design ornament.
 14. Earlobe masking element according to claim 11, wherein said masking element is made of metal, wherein said inner surface of said element is provided with a pair of curled-up springs adapted to be securely clamped on said hook portion.
 15. Earlobe masking element according to claim 14, wherein said masking element is further provided with an ornamental design formed on an outer surface of said element.
 16. An earring assembly comprising: an ornamental portion adapted to be suspended from a hook portion, said hook portion adapted to be inserted into a piercing opening of an earlobe of a wearer be means of a pin portion extended from said hook portion, said assembly further comprising an earlobe masking element, said masking element adapted to be securely mounted on a hook portion of said assembly and provided to mask or disguise said piercing opening of said earlobe.
 17. Earring assembly according to claim 16, wherein said assembly further comprises a guard element, said guard element is mounted on said hook portion and adapted to abut an inner surface of said earlobe, said guard element provided to facilitate a counter balance with said masking element and to keep said masking element flat against said earlobe.
 18. Earring assembly according to claim 16, wherein said masking element has generally a saucer-shaped configuration and provided with a central opening adapted to be threaded on said hook portion.
 19. Earring assembly according to claim 18, wherein said masking element is made of a synthetic material and wherein a friction property of said material around said opening facilitate a secure positioning of said element on said hook portion.
 20. Earring assembly according to claim 18, wherein said masking element is made of metal, wherein said inner surface of said element is provided with a pair of curled-up springs adapted to be securely clamped on said hook portion. 